Patent WO-2011030973-A1 (WO)
Title: Steel bar coupler
Inventor: KIM BYUNG SUB
IPC: E04C5/16
Filed: 2009-12-31
Abstract: The present invention relates to a steel bar coupler, and more particularly, to a steel bar coupler comprising: a pair of coupler caps, each having a tapered cap surface formed on an inner surface thereof; a tightening component divided into two parts defining rib projection insertion slots and joint projection retaining slots, for retaining the tapered cap surface inside the coupler cap and rib projections and joint projections of steel bars; a constricting ring for constricting the parts of the tightening component together; tightening component pressing means for resiliently pressing the constricting ring; and cap-connecting means for connecting and fixing the coupler caps to one another, between which steel bars can be inserted, and when one end of a steel bar is inserted, the rib projections and joint projections of the steel bar are retained by the tightening component so as to not separate, enabling steel bars to be easily connected in the lengthwise direction to one another on-site without the need for additional equipment, thereby improving work efficiency. The steel bar coupler according to the present invention is a steel bar coupler for connecting steel bars together in the lengthwise direction, the steel bars having a rib projection formed in the lengthwise direction along two opposite sides thereof, respectively, as well as joint projections joining the rib projections at one side and the other side and separated from one another by a predetermined distance. The steel bar coupler comprises: a pair of opposite hollow cylindrical coupler caps, each having an inner cap surface taper narrowing toward an outer end thereof; a tightening component divided into a predetermined number of parts in the lengthwise direction and provided so as to be rotatable and movable in the lengthwise direction within the coupler caps, and having a tapered tightening surface formed on an outer surface at one end thereof to correspond to the tapered cap surface; a C-shaped constricting ring for resiliently supporting the tightening component such that the tightening component parts converge together, in order to tighten the tightening component parts together and enabling the tightening component parts to spread apart when the steel bar is inserted into the tightening component; tightening component pressing means for resiliently pressing the tightening component toward one end of the coupler cap in order to retain the steel bar together with the tightening component when the steel bar is inserted in the tightening component; and cap-connecting means for connecting and fixing the other ends of the pair of coupler caps to each other, wherein the tightening component is divided into two parts in the lengthwise direction, the inner surfaces of which define a rib projection insert slot along the lengths of both side edges thereof so as to have a shape that is complementary to the rib projections of the steel bar, and to define joint projection retaining slots formed with shapes and at intervals corresponding to the joint projections of the steel bar, in order to support each rib projection and joint projection of the steel bar when the steel bar is inserted therein, and the outer surfaces of which define a constricting ring insertion slot having a predetermined width around the circumference at the other ends thereof and into which the constricting ring is inserted, in order to enable the tightening component parts to be offset from one another in the lengthwise direction due to the phase difference between the joint projections formed on both sides of the steel bar, respectively, when the steel bar is inserted therein.